Maravi

Rupiah says things he doesn’t believe in - Magande

Rupiah says things he doesn’t believe in - Magande
By Misheck Wangwe
Sat 02 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT

President Rupiah Banda says things he doesn’t believe in or understand, says Ng’andu Magande. In an interview yesterday, Magande said it was surprising that President Banda is encouraging SADC leaders not to take citizens for granted when he has refused to embrace people’s views in his own country.

Magande said it was difficult to establish what moral authority President Banda was using when he encouraged SADC leaders on the need to uphold the tenets of democracy. He said the President Banda was not the right one to advise the SADC region on democracy as his administration had exhibited high levels of undemocratic tendencies.

During the official opening of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ Troika Summit on Politics, Peace, Defence and Security in Livingstone yesterday, President Banda said leaders in the region must learn from the upheavals in North Africa not to take citizens for granted.

But Magande said it was President Banda's government that was a major culprit on the issue of taking people for granted.

“Every time we speak as members of the public, they tell us we don't know anything. Most of the things that have been said about the NAPSA deal, Zamtel, the windfall tax, we are told we don't know anything. I can even quote ministers like honourable mines minister Maxwell Mwale the other day he was saying that Milupi is just an engineer he can't talk about windfall tax,” Magande said.

“Labour minister Austin Liato on NAPSA, he was telling people that they are ignorant they should not talk about it, honourable finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane told the nation that I am just jealous I don't know what is happening. So how does he (President Banda) say that?”

Magande said President Banda must first of all work on consolidating the tenets of democracy within his government by ending the arrogance that he and his ministers had exhibited.

“Let him first of all tell his ministers that the powers that government has comes from the people. He should tell them that the instruments of running government are for the people. It is very good if what he said at that SADC meeting is a sign of repentance on his part and I hope so, and I hope he will change his behaviour,” Magande said.

He said it was sad that the fundamental laws and values of running a government on behalf of the people were missing in President Banda’s administration.

Magande said President Banda should not play to the gallery when he talked about issues of democracy, peace and good governance because Zambians expect him to demonstrate true leadership by taking action against people who undermine democracy.

He said if President Banda meant well, MMD cadres who were busy harassing people and causing confusion in public places must be punished.

President Banda made these remarks at a SADC troika held in Livingstone called to look into the situation in Zimbabwe and Madagascar.

Labels: MMD, NG'ANDU MAGANDE, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 5:13 AM